Doomsday law wins backing

Washington: The House of Representatives has approved doomsday legislation to ensure that Congress can continue its work if a terrorist attack wipes out large numbers of legislators.

The legislation would require states to hold special elections within 45 days after the house Speaker certifies that at least 100 of the chamber's 435 members have been killed.

Many lawmakers believe the Capitol was the intended target of hijackers aboard the flight that crashed in Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001, and they fear the house or Senate could be left without a quorum and unable to conduct important business.

They worry that if only a few of them survived, the legitimacy of their actions could be questioned.